Chapter 4 – The Missing Pain

For the next couple of weeks Joren and Kaci spent a lot of their spare time together. They would do their school work at each other's houses and afterwards would walk along the beach and talk.

Kaci was at school and noticed Joren had been missing from school for a couple of days. He'd sent her a couple of text messages letting her know he was sick and wasn't feeling well. She'd already decided she was going to see him at the end of her school day; which was going to be in about ten minutes.

It was the longest ten minutes of her life. Once the bell finally ran she met Tina at her car and Tina went ahead and took her to Joren's house. Kaci walked up to the front door and knocked. Joren's mom answered the door. "Kaci sweetheart how are you?"

Kaci smiled softly. "I'm good Mrs. Black."

"Alexia please; are you here to see Joren?" His mother questioned.

"May I, please?" Kaci only hoped his mom would allow her to see him, sick or not.

Alexia smiled. "Go ahead and go upstairs he's in his room."

Kaci called out a 'thank you' as she jogged up the stairs and knocked on Joren's bedroom door. She heard 'come in' mumbled from behind the door. Kaci pushed the door open and saw Joren lying upside down in his bed as he looked over.

"Kac what are you doing here?" Joren propped himself up on his elbows as he smiled at her. He was completely surprised to see her standing in his door way.

"Truthfully?" She counter questioned.

Joren nodded. "Sure the truth is always good." He chuckled.

"Well I maybe…sort if missed you."

Joren couldn't stop the smirk that graced his red lips. She was cute when she hemmed and hawed around. Joren sat up as he reach out and grabbed her hand gently and pulled her over and sat her down on his lap as he brushed his lips against her cheek. "Yea I missed you too."

Her hands touched his cheeks. "Wow you've got a wicked fever Joren. That can't be healthy."

Joren smiled softly as he rested his forehead on her shoulder. "It's okay. Mom just thinks it's a stomach bug. I should be okay in a couple of days and I should be back to school by Monday." He could see the worry on Kaci's face. "I'll be fine. I promise."

A honking from a car horn sounded outside. Kaci looked up at Joren. "That's Tina I have to get home. I've got a history report I have to get started. Will you call and talk with me later?"

Joren smiled. "Of course beautiful; nothing would stop me. Not even a stupid fever." He stood up with her and nearly smashed her to his chest in a tight hug as he kissed the top of her head. "C'mon I'll walk you out." His warm hand on her back guided her through the hallway and out the front door.

Joren smiled and gave Tina a quick nod as he opened the passenger door and took Kaci's hand and helped her into the car as he closed the door, Kaci rolled the window down and Joren stuck his head inside as she kissed her cheek. "I'll call you later."

Kaci nodded. "Ok, feel better."

Joren nodded as he watched Tina back out and drive off to take Kaci home. He rubbed is stomach slowly. He knew it wasn't going to be long now. He'd be phasing and joining the rest of his friends as the Quileute protectors, just like his father and his father's friends did.

Joren was scared. He knew there was a chance that he wouldn't imprint on Kaci. Even though he was already starting to fall for her…He'd liked her for the longest time and was going to ask her out a long time ago, but just couldn't he kept thinking about what his dad had told him about phasing and imprinting. He'd waited about as long as he could before finally asking her out. He was actually surprised she had accepted. He knew his dad told him prior to it happening, because he didn't want it to be a big surprise like it had been to his dad when his grandfather told his dad when he started getting sick with the fever.

It had actually been Joren's dad and grandfather who sat him down and told him about the legends being real. He was surprised to know most of his friend's father's made up the group of Quileute protector's along with his current girlfriend Kaci's own father. Though Kaci was oblivious to the wolf pack knowledge, Paul had informed him he would be telling her about it once Joren himself phased. Considering all her brothers including her own twin had already phased and was part of the current pack. He didn't like her not knowing but Paul had asked him not to say anything considering Joren; himself hadn't phased yet and she wasn't his imprint.

Joren only wished that he would phase soon and he really wanted to imprint on Kaci. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but secretly he'd been in love with her for a year before they started dating. His older brother Alex would call in frequently and check on him to see if he'd phased yet. He knew Alex was excited that Joren would be joining the pack. Just like all of the Redson brothers were ecstatic that Kegan had joined as well.

Kaci was sitting in the kitchen at the breakfast nook writing her history paper on her laptop as she was talking to her mom, while her mother was making dinner. "Do you miss Adam and Adrian as much as I do mom?"

Nyla looked up at her daughter. "I probably miss them more than you. I'm the one who carried them for nine months. I've watched them grow up and become strong men much like their father. I watched your father grow up and I was blessed to watch the perfect husband he turned into, not to mention the best father he has become. HE never missed the most important moments in your kids' lives. He saw your first steps, heard your first words. He was right by all of your sides for your first days of school."

"I asked dad, but I might as well ask you too. Would you change anything?"

Nyla smiled. "There is nothing I'd change about our lives when you kids started coming into the mix. There are a few things I regret that I did before I married you're father and we both know what they were. I'm sure your dad has the same regrets from before we were married. But once we were married, there was nothing to regret; only happiness and babies. There were lots of unexpected surprises in the delivery room with you kids. But it was nothing we couldn't handle and definitely nothing we ever regretted."

"I second the motion." Paul's voice sounded as he walked into the kitchen, he kissed the side of Nyla's neck and felt her shiver slightly against him as she looked back over her shoulder and he kissed her lips softly.

"Ewww you guys I'm totally seeing this." Kaci faked a gag. The phone rang as Kaci jumped off the stool and held up her hand. "Don't bother; you two continue your mating dance I'll get the phone." While walking from the kitchen into the living room.

Paul smirked. "That mouth is your daughter."

Nyla giggled. "Sure like she didn't get any of that attitude from you." Nyla scoffed.

Paul chuckled as he spun Nyla around to face him as he pinned her against the counter and captured her lips with a slight growl against them. He felt her melt into his arms.

Kaci picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey kiddo!" Adrian's voice boomed over the phone.

Kaci's smile could've blinded anyone. "ADRIAN! Oh my god, how are you and Adam doing?"

"Were doing good Kac; we thought we'd call and see how everyone was doing. We should be home in a couple of weeks."

"Gosh I miss you guys. I can't wait for you to be home already." Kaci whispered softly. She could feel the tears building behind her eyes.

Adrian groaned. "Awww c'mon Kac don't cry. You know this is our job. But listen once we get home we'll have some time off. I promise we'll do whatever you want. Plus summer is coming up and you know we don't leave as much during the summer. It's when the council takes their time off as well."

Adam got on the phone as he smiled through the receiver. "Kaci you know better than to cry with Adrian's big old softie ass on the phone…We miss you just as much. We'll be home before you know it. I promise."

Kaci sucked in a breath as she tried not to sob into the phone. "Okay. I'm sorry guys. I love you and I can't wait for you for you both to be home safe and sound."

Adam chuckled. "I know you're trying to sound like you're not crying. Tell mom and dad we love them and we'll be home soon. We love you too half pint."

Kaci's breath was shaky. "I love you guys too. Please be safe."

"We will baby sister. We will." Adam spoke softly as he hung up. He hated it when she cried; none of the Redson brothers could handle Kaci crying. Especially when they knew it was them she was crying for. They were such a tight knit family and close with each other it killed them to miss things in Kaci's life considering she was the only sister they had. They also knew she was sad because ever since Kegan had phased him and Kaci hadn't been as close and he had a slightly rougher exterior with her. They would have to remember to have a conversation with him once they got back.

Kaci walked back into the kitchen and Paul was the first to notice her tears. Paul frowned. "Adam and Adrian called didn't they?" She just nodded a yes to his question.

"I'm going to go upstairs and lay down a little before dinner." Kaci saved her work and packed up her laptop and walked upstairs to her room.

Nyla frowned. "She always takes it so hard."

Paul nodded. "It doesn't help that Kegan has been distancing himself from her also. His temper has been getting out of control lately and I know those are my genetics working overtime on him."

"Things will work out. Kegan just needs his space and time to get used to all this. He's only been part of the pack for a month. It's all foreign to him."

Paul could only hope Kegan could continue to harness his temper. And hopefully he could help him. Though he wasn't sure because it was a different generation and the pack was definitely different. Every generation was different.